Scotland goes gate-to-wire in two-turn test, will head to Travers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Scotland passed his stakes and two-turn debut with high marks Friday at Saratoga, taking the $130,950 Curlin Stakes in front-running fashion by 3 1/4 lengths.

Il Miracolo, who put token pressure on Scotland from the start, settled for second, three lengths clear of heavily favored Blazing Sevens. Lost Ark and Perform completed the order of finish.

The win was the third from four starts for Scotland, a son of Good Magic owned by LNJ Foxwoods and trained by Bill Mott. The result likely earned Scotland a start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes here Aug. 26.

“This was a test today to see if he’d get the two turns, get the nine furlongs and get him a race over the Saratoga racetrack and he answered [those] questions today,” Mott said. “Obviously, the Travers is a different race, different competition.”

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The Travers is expected to attract the winner of all three Triple Crown races — Kentucky Derby winner Mage, Preakness winner National Treasure and Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo.

V.E. Day, in 2014, is the last horse to win the Curlin and come back to win the Travers.

Scotland had won two of his first three starts, all around one turn. He was coming off a narrow victory in a first-level allowance race at Churchill Downs June 3.

Junior Alvarado, who had ridden him in that race, felt confident Scotland would have no problem stretching out in distance.

In the Curlin, Scotland outbroke expected speed Il Miracolo, opened a one-length advantage through a quarter in 23.69 seconds. Il Miracolo, under Luis Saez, was within a head through a half-mile in 47.56 and six furlongs in 1:11.12. Approaching the top of the lane, Alvarado asked Scotland to run and he gradually pulled away from Il Miracolo in the stretch.

Scotland covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.12 and returned $6.90 as the second choice.

“I had a lot of horse from the get-go so I just let him get comfortable and he was traveling beautifully,” Alvarado said. “I was hoping he would give me the kick that I was expecting at the end. … I always thought he was going to be a nice horse going two turns and I think he proved it today.”

Meanwhile, Blazing Sevens, under Flavien Prat, was last early, moved into third entering the turn, but “as soon as they picked it up, I was beat,” Prat said.

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